Combustion chamber retaining means

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an arrangement of retention means for positioning and retaining a combustion chamber within the external wall of a heat exchanger. The combustion chamber, which may be comprised of complementary pieces, has at least one lug projecting outwardly therefrom. In addition, the combustion chamber retention means includes an open ended ring which is attached to the base of the heat exchanger and is adapted to surround the combustion chamber and overlay the chamber lugs in order to maintain the chamber in a relatively fixed position.

United States Patent 1191 Brockhurst 14 1 Feb. 13, 1973 1 COMBUSTION CHAMBER RETAINING MEANS [75] Inventor: 'Woodrow W. Brockhurst, Cleveland, Ohio [73] Assignee: Luxaire, Inc., Elyria, Ohio [22] Filed: Nov. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 196,666

[52] US. Cl ..l26/l51 [51] Int. Cl ..F23m 5/00 [58] Field of Search ..431/171, DlG. 12; 110/97 R,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,036,599 4/1936 Moir ..126/145 Lewis ..l26/l5l Ray ..126/144 Primary ExaminerEdward G. Favors AttorneyF. H. Henson et. a1.

[ 57 ABSTRACT This invention relates to an arrangement of retention means for positioning and retaining a combustion chamber within the external wall of a heat exchanger. The combustion chamber, which may be comprised of complementary pieces, has at least one lug projecting outwardly therefrom. In addition, the combustion chamber retention means includes an open ended ring which is attached to the base of the heat exchanger and is adapted to surround the combustion chamber and overlay the chamber lugs in order to maintain the chamber in a relatively fixed position.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures COMBUSTION CHAMBER RETAINING MEANS CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS So far as known, this invention is not related to any pending patent applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has been the practice when retaining a combustion chamber within a heat exchanger assembly to use one of several devices. In one such device, the combustion chamber would fit snugly up against a cement backing. A second device employed serrated edges which were attached to the heat exchanger base 'and could anchor the combustion chamber thereto. Still another device included metallic legs which were welded to the combustion chamber and could attach the chamber to the heat exchanger base while maintaining the chamber at a desired elevation.

These combustion chamber retaining devices have proved undesirable, because they do not readily permit the chamber to be removed or relocated once the chamber has been placed in its assembled position within the heat exchanger; Past retaining schemes also inherently impaired the reassembly of a new combustion chamber within the heat exchanger should the I original combustion chamber be damaged and need to be replaced.

It is therefore desirable to employ a simple but effective combustion chamber retention means which would permit relocating of the chamber for alignment with openings in the heat exchanger external wall after its assembly and positioning within the heat exchanger and would also facilitate the reassembly of a new chamber within the heat exchanger should the need arise to replace the original chamber.

PRIOR ART References may be made to the following US. patents;

2,762,425 Schusteret a] 3,557,773 Ray The Ray patent discloses a heat exchanger and a combustion chamber retention means that maintains the combustion chamber in Mixed position on the heat exchanger base by overlaying a plurality oflugs that ex tend outwardly from the chamber. The Schuster et al patent shows a combustion chamber which is comprised of complimentary pieces to be inserted in old or new heat exchangers by introducing the pieces singly through an opening and assembling them in the interior of the heat exchanger.

However, neither of the above patents discloses a combustion chamber retention means assembly comprising a single open ended ring which surrounds the periphery of the combustion chamber and is adapted to overlay at least one lug so as to both maintain the chamber in a relatively fixed position yet permit removal or relocation of the chamber for exact alignment with the heat exchanger openings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A heat exchanger is disclosed wherein retention means are provided for maintaining a combustion chamber in a relatively fixed position within the heat exchanger. The combustion chamber may comprise complimentary pieces, each piece having at least one lug extending outwardly therefrom. The combustion chamber retention means includes an open ended ring which is attached to the heat exchanger base. The ring is adapted to surround the periphery of the chamber and to overlay the chamber lugs during the assembly and positioning of the chamber within the heat exchanger. When the chamber is formed of complimentary pieces, each piece may be inserted, one at a time, through the burner port in the heat exchanger external wall for assembly within the heat exchanger. The combustion chamber may be assembled in such a manner within the heat exchanger and may be rotated and relocated to a desired position during or after assembly to facilitate the assembly or to achieve proper alignment with openings in the heat exchanger external wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger cut away to show the combustion chamber and the combustion chamber retention means;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the heat exchanger and combustion chamber taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the complimentary pieces which comprise the combustion chamber in the assembled relationship.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The heat exchanger 1 of FIG. 1, such as that found in a common oil Furnace, is shown in the, preferred form as having a metallic, cylindrical external wall 2 which is attached to a circular base 3. Positioned in the lower end of heat exchanger external wall 2 is the burner port 4. Burner port 4 serves the dual purpose of being able to receive both the burner means and also the complimentary pieces that comprise the combustion chamber (as will be explained hereinafter). The combustion chamber retention means 9 is securely attached to base 3 of heat exchanger 1. I

Located within heat exchanger external wall 2 and attached to base 3 by retention means 9 is the combustion chamber 5, which is preferably hollow and cylindrical and constructed of a ceramic material. Chamber 5 has an inlet port.6 for also receiving the burner means as passed through burner port 4. The combustion chamber 5, when reassembled if necessary after shipment from the factory, is comprised of at least two complimentary pieces 15 and 25 (best shown in, FIG. 3), although the number of pieces is not limited thereto. When assembled at the factory, the chamber 5 is normally one piece since it is then not necessary to insert the chamber through the burner port 4. When the chamber 5 is formed of two or more complimentary pieces, the complimentary pieces are manufactured to have a size which enables each piece to be inserted, one at a time, through the heat exchanger burner port 4 for assembly or disassembly of the chamber 5 within heat exchanger 1. Combustion chamber inlet port 6 is preferably contained by only one of the chamber pieces 15. Each complimentary piece is provided with at least chamber and to overlay chamber lugs 7 and 8 during assembly and positioning of chamber 5 within heat exchanger 1.

In the event that the original one piece combustion chamber 5 should need to be repaired or replaced, as damage may possibly occur either during shipment of the heat exchanger assembly or during normal furnace operation, retention ring -.would facilitate the replacement of the damaged combustion chamber 5 by permitting the new chamber pieces to be rotated during assembly. The original combustion chamber is broken up and removed through burner port opening 4. By way of example, if two complimentary pieces are used, a new combustion chamber may be reassembled in the field within heat exchanger 1 by inserting complimentary pieces and 25, piece by piece, into heat exchanger 1 through burner port 4 and then into ring 10. As the complimentary pieces 15 and 25 are joined together (at line 12) to form a new composite combustion chamber 5, the combustion chamber 5 is positioned within retention ring 10 such that one lug 7 is inserted under ring 10 opposite the open-end of ring 10 and the second lug 8 projects toward the open-end of retention ring 10. The entire chamber 5 may then be rotated to enable retention ring 10 to overlay both chamber lugs 7 and 8 simultaneously, thereby maintaining combustion chamber 5 at a relatively fixed position while securing the chamber 5 to heat exchanger base 3. After the combustion chamber 5 has been positioned in its assembled relationship within heat exchanger 1, it still remains possible for the chamber 5 to again be rotated and repositioned as the need arises in order to provide continuous alignment between burner port 4 and inlet port 6.

A simple but. effective combustion chamber retention means has been disclosed which permits complimentary pieces of the combustion chamber to be rotated during assembly or allows the completed chamber to be repositioned after assembly within the heat exchanger, thus providing for both the suitable securing of the chamber at a desired position within the heat exchanger and for precise alignment between the chamber and openings in the heat exchanger external wall.

It should be noted that in the preferred form, the combustion chamber of this invention is comprised of at least two complimentary pieces. This is only to facilitate a field replacement of the original chamber should it become damaged. An original combustion chamber retained within a heat exchanger which is shipped from the factory, is a one piece assembly. Although the preferred embodiment also teaches a combustion chamber having two lugs in its assembled state, the invention is not limited thereto. While each complimentary piece is provided with at least one lug,

when the complimentary pieces are assembled, it is equally possible to form a combustion chamber, itself, having but a single composite lug. The retention means of this invention, however, will operate in the disclosed manner regardless of whether a one or a multiple complimentary piece chamber is employed or whether the chamber has only one or multiple lugs.

I claim:

1. In a heat exchanger having an external wall, a base, a burner port in said external wall for receiving burner means, and a combustion chamber adapted to be positioned within said external wall, the improvement comprising a combustion chamber retention means attached to said heat exchanger base, said combustion chamber having at least one lug projecting outwardly therefrom, said combustion chamber retention means including a ring having a circumference of more than but less than 360 and being adapted to surround the periphery of said chamber and over-lay said lug in the assembled relationship to maintain said chamber in a fixed position.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said combustion chamber comprises at least two complimentary pieces, each of said pieces having a size adapted to permit insertion thereof through said heat exchange burner port for assembly or disassembly of said combustion chamber.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein each of said pieces has at least one said lug thereon.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein one of said complimentary pieces contains an inlet port therein, said inlet port being adapted to receive burner means. 

1. In a heat exchanger having an external wall, a base, a burner port in said external wall for receiving burner means, and a combustion chamber adapted to be positioned within said external wall, the improvement comprising a combustion chamber retention means attached to said heat exchanger base, said combustion chamber having at least one lug projecting outwardly therefrom, said combustion chamber retention means including a ring having a circumference of more than 180* but less than 360* and being adapted to surround the periphery of said chamber and over-lay said lug in the assembled relationship to maintain said chamber in a fixed position.
 1. In a heat exchanger having an external wall, a base, a burner port in said external wall for receiving burner means, and a combustion chamber adapted to be positioned within said external wall, the improvement comprising a combustion chamber retention means attached to said heat exchanger base, said combustion chamber having at least one lug projecting outwardly therefrom, said combustion chamber retention means including a ring having a circumference of more than 180* but less than 360* and being adapted to surround the periphery of said chamber and over-lay said lug in the assembled relationship to maintain said chamber in a fixed position.
 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said combustion chamber comprises at least two complimentary pieces, each of said pieces having a size adapted to permit insertion thereof through said heat exchange burner port for assembly or disassembly of said combustion chamber.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein each of said pieces has at least one said lug thereon. 